Aeroplane.



P. LEBREIL 5.11. 'DBSGBORGR n AEROPLANE. AHLIOATION FILED Nov. 17, 1909.

Patented Nov. 22, .1910.

mi d s wwf 4 w/ Twist-5 5 FRANQOIS LEBREIL, 0F VILLERBANNE, AND RAOULDESGEOBGE, OFYON, FRANCE.

AEROPLAN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

Application filed November 17, 1909. Serial No. 528,441.

To all whom 'it may concern: y

Be it known that we, FRANQoIs LEBREIL and RAOUL DESGEORGE, citizens ofthe French Republic, residing at' Villeurbanne, (Rhne,) and Lyon,respectively, both in France, have invented certain new and useful linrovements in Aeroplanes, of which the `fol owing is a specification.

The aeroplane forming the subject matter of the present inventionissupported or suspended b a surface which in shape and method oconstruction is similar to the hull of a navigable vessel. It is drivenfrom the front by one ortwo propellers adapted to rotate about or on asingle horizontal shaft which can be inclined laterally in eitherdirection with respect to the longitudinal aXis of the aeroplane'for thepurpose of effecting the steering.

The aviators seat and the motor are suspended from about the center ofthis surface and maintain the desired balance. The elevating controllerwhich can be single or double is operated by displacements of theaviators seat and lthe direction of the propellers is regulated by meansof a steering handle.

An embodiment of the invention is represented -in the accompanyingdrawing in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevationof the improvedaeroplane. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation. Fig. 3 isa plan view on a reduced scale.

The supporting surface is formed of a keel member 1, 2, disposed in avertical plane having the shape of a very elongated triangle withrectilinear sides 'of which the apex is at he rear as at 1, and the baseat the front as at 2. This keel is divided at its upper part into twosymmetrical surfaces 3, 8 the transverse section of which is a curvewith the concave side turned downwardly and of which the longitudinalsections are straight.

The car, -which in the form shown is shaped as an elongated bicycle issuspended below the keel by four oblique stays 4, 4, 5, 5, The motor 6is mounted between the two wheels and transmits movement to a verticalshaft 7 by means of beveled gearing 8 said shaft having at its oppositeenda bevel wheel 9 meshing with two bevel wheels 10,'11 whereby thelatter are driven in opposite directions. The bevel wheel 11 is keyed ona tubular'horizontal shaft 12 which car- `a completely smooth surface.

ries at its forward end the propeller 13, and the bevel wheel 10 iskeyed on a shaft 14 extending through said shaft 12 and carrying at itsforward end the propeller 15. The two shafts asa whole can rotate aboutthe axis of the wheel 9 on a pivot 16 mounted on the keel at a pointnear .the center of its length and said shafts are carried at theforward end in a bearing 17 adapted for sliding movement in a horizontalgu1de18.

The shafts 12 and .14 are manipulated or controlled by the handle bar19, the movement of which is transmitted to a vertical shaft 20 carryingan arm 21 which actuates a projecting rod 22 fixed to the frame l()awhich connects the bevel wheels 9, 10, 11.

The aviator mounted on the saddle 25 can thus manipulate the handle bar19 for steering the machine, and can also by displacing the saddle in abackward or forward direction operate the lifting rudder 23 pivoted at24 to the rear end of the supporting plane for which purpose the saidsaddle is carried by a rod 26 connected at its forward end to an arm 27pivoted at 28 to the frame of the car said rod being pivoted at its rearend to the lower arm of a lever 29, fulcrumed at 30 on a shaft carriedto the rear stays 4.

The upper arm of the lever 29 is connected by a rod 31 to a bar 32 fixedto the lower surface of the rudder 23. The wheels 33 and 34 are providedfor running pn the ground as usual, the frontwheel 34 .serving also forsteering and adapted to be controlled at the Sametime as the propellersby the handle bar 19 and connecting rod 35. It will be seen that theaviator can readily regulate the horizontal and vertical directions ofmovement of the apparatus fromv his' seat and can also control the motorby any known or suitable means.

The apparatus can be constructed of any suitable material, but thesupporting plane surface is preferably made of thin sheets of woodfastened to wooden ribs 87 arranged on the outside so that the concaveparts have The petrol reservoir 36 is located between the two wings inthe space between two ribs 87 and can be divided into severalcommunicating compartments divided by transverse partitions to preventundue displacement of the liquid.

The propellers may be constructed of thin superposed sheets of wood insuch a manner as cross the grain in the known manner.

The details of construction can be varied,

the accompanying drawing only illustrating an example or" construction.

What We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is In an aeroplane the combination of a supportingplane comprising two juxtaposed surfaces concave in transverse sectionand straight in the longitudinal direction, two juxtaposed propellerslocated at the forward end of said plane and adapted for 1nove mentlaterally of the longitudinal axis of said supporting plane, a carconnected to said plane comprising a/cycle structure, an elevatingrud'derat the rear of said plane, a motor carried by the car7telescoping shafts carrying the propellers, differential gearing drivenby the motor for operating said shafts, means in the car forcontrollingn the lateral direction of the propellers and simultaneouslythe movements of the forward Wheel of the cycle; a movable saddlesupported in the car and connections between said saddle and elevatingrudder whereby

